In 2000, a rumor spread in Nepal that bollywood star Hrithik Roshan had told an interviewer that he hated Nepal and Nepali people, which caused nationwide protest, 4 deaths, 100s of injury, and destruction of public property. Roshan denied the rumor.
Timeline
2000 Dec 25 Mon: a rumor swept through southern Nepalese towns that Indian bollywood film star Hrithik Roshan had told an interviewer that he hated Nepal and its people. Rioting started targeting people of indian origin and their businesses.
2000 Dec 26 Tue: protests in Kathmandu, four people dead, public transportation halted. only police, firefighters and ambulances were allowed out on the smoke-filled streets to put out the tire and tree fires. About 180 people were injured, including 30 police officers who tried to stop a crowd of 5,000 protesters from tearing down a movie theater where Roshan’s latest film, MissionKashmir, was being shown. Police initially fired into the air, but when the crowd began to pelt them with stones, they fired into the crowd. Among the dead was a 12-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet as she sat in her room reading.
2000 Dec 27 Wed: protests across the streets in Kathmandu, setting tires and trees ablaze and virtually shutting down the city. Indian businesses were vandalized, and windows at The State Bank of India were smashed. Many university students, came into the streets setting fires. Schools, businesses and offices were closed.
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Hritik Roshan denied ever making any comments against Nepal and claimed competitors are trying to ruin his reputation. Hritik Roshan told star news tv channel “I can name all the interviews I have given. All the tapes are there for anyone to see anytime, I have never spoken against Nepal or the Nepalese people, whom I love.” He said he believed members of the criminal underworld may have been responsible for stirring the trouble.
Deputy PM Ram Chandra Poudel appealed for calm - “I appeal for calm as these types of violent activities only damage the nation.”
Communication Minister Jaya Prakash Gupta said the government had asked movie theaters across Nepal to stop screening Roshan films to prevent further attacks. Cable operators also cut Indian television channels, fearing violence.
The Indian embassy said in a statement that“deeply distressed at the violence and the loss of lives resulting from the spread of baseless rumors.”
hritik roshan prakaran
